Bob Beckett Advertisement

Nye County District Attorney Bob Beckett, in a prepared statement, took "full responsibility" for the events of June 15, the day he was involved in two motor vehicle accidents within six hours.

The first accident occurred at approximately 1:30 p.m. in Shoshone, Calif., during which Beckett rolled over his county-issued Ford Expedition sports utility vehicle in the desert.

The second accident, only a few hours later, occurred in Beckett's personal 2005 Dodge van and ended with him getting arrested for driving under the influence after blowing a .1 blood alcohol level on a breathalyzer.

The latter incident occurred only 35 miles away from the scene of the first accident at about 7:30 p.m.

Beckett was taken to the Baker California Highway Patrol station where he was released into an unknown friend's custody several hours later.

"I take full responsibility for these events, offer my sincerest apology and hope you can forgive me this singular lapse in judgment," the release, signed by Beckett and addressed to "my fellow citizens of Nye County," said Wednesday.

Despite totaling the county vehicle beyond repair in Shoshone, an accident from which Beckett suffered reportedly fairly serious injury to his hand, he was not cited for the incident.

"The law enforcement officers who assisted me in California were very professional and performed their duties exactly as they were trained to do," Beckett wrote. "I would not expect or accept any special treatment. I extend my personal thanks to them for helping me through this incident and will let the system work this out."

In response to the lack of information about the incidents during the week following the incidents (numerous attempts to contact him by this paper and other media outlets were not successful), Beckett apologized and wrote he has "been recovering from some injuries and consulting with my family."

The district attorney also added an assurance that he is "taking steps to ensure that this will never happen again in my life."

The first incident occurred while the district attorney was driving southbound on Highway 127, reportedly on his way to Santa Barbara to attend the State Bar of Nevada annual meeting, scheduled to begin that Wednesday.

He told officers he was "fidgeting with the radio" when he lost control of the vehicle and skidded across two lanes of traffic, causing the SUV to rollover in the desert before landing on its roof.

Beckett told the highway patrol officer who handled the second incident, he had drunk a Bud Light with dinner.

Beckett has been Nye County's district attorney since 1995 after coming to Pahrump from Las Vegas.

He is running for Department I Fifth District Judge against incumbent John P. Davis and Marla Zlotek.

There was no reference to the election in the press release.

Beckett is scheduled to appear in Barstow Superior Court for arraignment on Sept. 2.